Mossberg 500 Cruiser

The Mossberg 500 Cruiser is a 12-gauge, pump-action shotgun with an 18 1/2 inch barrel and an ergonomic pistol grip. Though it is one of the line's base models, its three-inch chamber permits the use of a wide range of ammunition, while its magazine tube provides a generous six-shot capacity. For some, these are selling points in their own right, but the real draw – aside from its proven military performance – is the inclusion of several practical features, including its comfortable, synthetic fore-end. Perfect for a range of shooting applications from hunting and recreational shooting to personal and home defense, the Mossberg 500 Cruiser is one shotgun that will not soon leave your collection.

O.F. Mossberg & Sons, more commonly known as Mossberg, is an American arms manufacturer that was founded in 1919 by Swedish-born Oscar Frederick Mossberg alongside his two sons. Mossberg came to the United States in 1886, where he worked in a bicycle factory owned by Iver Johnson. Though the company was founded on the Mossberg Brownie – a four-barreled handgun chambered in .22 LR – it is now known the world over for producing exceptional rifles and shotguns like the new Mossberg 500 Cruiser.

As one may guess based on its name, the Mossberg 500 Cruiser is a shotgun that traces its lineage all the way back to 1961 when the Mossberg 500 Series made its debut. The Mossberg 500 Series is a series of shotguns that represents a range of varying, hammerless, pump-action shotguns, each of which features the same receiver. Variations are generally found in the barrel length, bore size, choke options, capacity, sights and stock/fore-end materials. The 500 Series has always been marketed as a series of multi-purpose shotguns designed for use in less-than-favorable conditions. As such, all Mossberg 500s feature interchangeable barrels, which provide for a number of different configurations that can quickly turn a 500 into a field gun, a slug gun, a defensive gun or a sport gun, depending on the needs of the shooter. Additionally, they are all easily disassembled to allow for easy cleaning and simple maintenance. The versatility of the line has even earned it a spot with military forces the world over, often as the Model 590A1, which typically features an aluminum trigger guard and safety as well as a heavy barrel.

One of the greatest selling points for the Mossberg 500 Series, which includes the Mossberg 500 Cruiser, is the fact that they all boast MIL-SPEC performance. The Mossberg 500 Series is the only shotgun that has passed the United States Military's MIL-SPEC 3443G standards, which just serves to illustrate the superior performance and reliability associated with the Mossberg 500 Cruiser – must-have qualities for any shotgun.

As noted, the Mossberg 500 Cruiser is a 20-gauge, pump-action shotgun with an 18 1/2 inch barrel alongside an overall length of 28 inches. The magazine tube provides for a five-shell capacity for an overall capacity of six with one shell in the chamber. The aircraft-grade aluminum construction of the receiver, which is blued, provides for protection against rust and corrosion as well as a light weight of just six pounds. When combined with the comfortable pistol grip, it makes for a shotgun that is easily handled by most experienced shooters. Other features include an ambidextrous thumb safety, a bead front sight and a comfortable, synthetic fore-end.